This was my first week at my new placement. I am in an A.E.R.O classroom at Byrd Elementary School. It has been a huge transition for me to go from New Mexico one week to just a few days later back at Trinity and in a new classroom that is so very different from one another. I felt like I have not had time to adjust to being back and it has been a tiring and tough week.
My classroom is a classroom of eight students, four paraprofessionals, my cooperating teacher, and an occasional PT and OT. Needless to say, it is tight quarters.
The room is set up in a way that there are stations. The students function off a specific schedule and the schedule never changes. This is helpful for the students who have autism. Each of the paraprofessionals teach a station that the teacher has prepared for them at the beginning of the year. Each day the students go through eight centers and have group time. A few students go to some of the general education classes like gym and music.
This week I really worked on building rapport with my students. I did a lot of playing and observing. My teacher recommended that I play with the students a lot because they need to associate "fun" with me before they can feel comfortable working with me. She said that at the beginning of the year they take two full weeks to play with them before they start a normal schedule. This was amazing to me!
They go on a lot of field trips throughout the year. I was able to go on one with them this week to Jump Zone. They had a wonderful time and it was fun to play with them and get to know the students and even the paraprofessionals a little better.
My goal for this week was to learn the schedule, get to know teachers and paras and students as best as I could. It is very important for me to get along with them and immerse myself in the classroom. I want to be able to learn from them all and I made that very clear at the beginning of the week.
Each student is uniquely and wonderfully different. I am a bit nervous as to how I will do in this classroom however. I am finding that this type of placement is not what I expected and I feel quite uncomfortable majority of the time. I feel that I have a lot of learning to do in order to fit into this type of environment. I hope to feel more and more comfortable as I continue my time there.
Next week I am hoping to start teaching my teacher's center with at least one of the students one-on-one and continue to observe and play with students in order to build rapport.
Yes - going to a classroom like this might be kind of like barging in on a family dinner with a family that you don't know at all. Routines have been set and everyone is wondering a little about this new "stranger". But, not to worry, by the time you are about to leave you will be part of the "family".
ReplyDeleteHave you connected with any other Trinity grads as AERO? This could be a helpful link and another resource to tap into as you get the feel for the place. As you have described this is a whole new ballgame and if you can make a difference for even a couple of students - you can truly feel a measure of success. Special education is all about the little victories.
Blessings on your week Jessica and here is a list of stress reducers (but don't stress about not reading the whole list!)
36 Stress Reducers (author unknown) for when teaching (or life) is getting to you.
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed
4. Say NO to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and get places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about the situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key hidden in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You every day.
16. Carry a Bible with you.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so that everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve our quality of life.
21. Every day, find time to be alone.
22. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don’t wait until it’s time to go to bed to tray and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures at hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good, “Thank you Jesus!”
27. Laugh
28. Laugh some more.
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself, not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it most)
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteYes this placement is VERY different than your first. However, I know you are learning and that this placement was something God had planned for you.
I really appreciate your attitude and disposition. You are flexible and working to do your best.
I know you will learn a lot at this placement that you will use in your own teaching.
I'll be out of town in the next week. I won't read your blog until I return. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Goddard.
Take care,
Dr. Meyer